Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), on Monday urged newly called-to-Bar police officers to uphold integrity, professionalism, and discipline as they assume dual responsibilities as law enforcement officers and legal practitioners.
Addressing the officers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the IGP described their success as a milestone achievement that would add strategic value to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and strengthen the country’s justice system.
“It gives me great pride to welcome you. Today, we are not only recognizing personal success; we are celebrating an achievement that strengthens the Nigeria Police Force and adds value to our country,” he said.
He also congratulated the officers on their successful completion of the Nigerian Law School programme, noting with pride that one of them graduated with First Class Honours, which he described as a rare and outstanding feat that has brought honour to the Force.
The Police Chief emphasized that law enforcement cannot be effective without a strong legal foundation.
He stressed that the officers’ legal training positioned them to serve as defenders of the law in the field and as custodians of justice in the courtroom.
According to him, every action taken by the Police must be grounded in law, every power exercised must be backed by law, and every responsibility borne must be judged by law.
Egbetokun highlighted that their entry into the profession coincided with the recent elevation of the Police Legal Section to the Force Directorate of Legal Services, now headed by an Assistant Inspector-General of Police.
He explained that the upgrade was not symbolic but strategic, designed to provide sharper legal direction, ensure watertight prosecutions, safeguard the institution against legal vulnerabilities, and influence policy at the highest levels.
He told the officers that they were joining the Directorate at a defining moment and that its success would depend heavily on their contributions.
He further stressed that the Police did not need lawyers in uniform for decoration, but officers who would add tangible value to the institution.
He urged them to ensure that prosecutions are handled professionally, conduct themselves with integrity that is above reproach, and provide legal opinions that commanders can rely on with confidence.
He also encouraged them to help align the Force with constitutional standards, human rights obligations, and international best practices, while serving as role models to other officers who aspire to combine policing with legal practice.
The IGP reminded the officers that their call to the Bar had doubled their responsibilities, making them accountable to the Force, the legal profession, and the Nigerian people.
He cautioned them against misusing their legal knowledge for personal advantage, urging them instead to channel it into service that would strengthen the Directorate and uplift the Police Force.
“Excellence will be recognized and rewarded. Mediocrity will not be tolerated,” he said.
He added that the combination of their uniform and the lawyer’s gown placed them in a demanding yet privileged position, requiring humility, discipline, and loyalty to the Force.
Egbetokun charged the officers to justify the investment the Police had made in their legal education, insisting that their performance would not only shape their careers but also determine the credibility of the Nigeria Police as a professional law enforcement institution.
He declared that the achievement was not merely about the gown they would wear in court, but about the standards they would set while in uniform.
“The Police at this time, more than ever before, need lawyers who will make the law work for justice, for discipline, and for Nigeria,” he said.
